WWE is slowly but surely moving into WrestleMania season with each passing month, and as we continue to head closer to 2019, some of the key storylines leading up to the "Showcase of the Immortals" will begin to develop. As many of you are well aware, while Vince McMahon already has much of his WrestleMania 35 card already lined up, some intriguing things are undoubtedly going to happen before April comes around. Roman Reigns' recent leukemia diagnosis which inevitably caused "The Big Dog" to vacate his Universal Championship showcases that nothing is for certain in WWE, because it can be guaranteed that Vince had Roman penciled in to have a Universal Title reign lasting until 'Mania 35 and potentially beyond.

McMahon will now have to change his plans for Raw's flagship championship, and either Brock Lesnar or Braun Strowman will be at the forefront of those said plans. WWE always tries their best to keep fan intrigue at an all-time high heading into any WrestleMania season, and 2019 will be absolutely no different. There will definitely be plenty of swerves and surprising moments in WWE to come over the following five months, and these moments could vary from Superstar returns, retirements, new champions, heel or face turns, NXT call-ups among many other awesome things. Some fans may argue that WWE is lacking excitement at the present time, but you can surely expect Vince to step up his game considerably over the next few weeks (and months). Today, we will look at 20 things that will likely happen in WWE by WrestleMania 35...

20 The Miz Wins His Second WWE Championship After Defeating AJ Styles

The Miz has been on fire for the past two years in WWE, and "The A-Lister" has unquestionably reinvigorated his career all while establishing himself as a top-tier Superstar again on SmackDown Live. The Miz has always been regarded by many as being one of the best pure heels WWE has at their disposal, but in most cases, WWE management has overlooked what The Miz has to offer to the main event scene in favor of other stars.

However, the days of The Miz being underutilized in WWE may be coming to an end very soon, as some rumors suggest he is one of the names being considered by Vince to take WWE Championship off the current title holder, AJ Styles. With Styles' feud against Samoa Joe seemingly over, Miz is definitely one of the possible challengers that makes the most sense. If this rumor proves to be correct, it wouldn't be surprising if The Miz heads into WrestleMania 35 as WWE Champion to defend his prestigious title against longtime rival, Daniel Bryan.

19 Daniel Cormier Debuts In WWE As New Addition To Commentary

WWE is certainly always on the hunt for their next great commentator, and as some of you are likely aware, Vince likes his commentating booth to have variety, with at least one African-American individual on the team (Dave Meltzer has confirmed this notion). While David Otunga and Byron Saxton look the part, their talent behind the color commentary desk is somewhat questionable, and they definitely aren't very fluid or natural with their delivery.

Booker T may not be the best commentator WWE has to offer, but Booker's quirks and hilarious lines keep him in the good books of most fans. However, Booker doesn't seem to be interested in working commentary every week on Raw, so Vince is looking for a more permanent replacement. Apparently, current UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier is set to have a try-out for WWE as a commentator following his UFC 230 fight against Derrick Lewis. Aside from being a (low-key) fan of WWE, DC is both funny and intuitive on commentary, so this would undoubtedly be a huge signing for WWE.

18 Aleister Black Joins The Main Roster

Without question, Aleister Black is one of NXT's hottest young prospects. A surefire hit on WWE's main roster if Vince is willing to commit to Black. For the past two years, Aleister has been solidifying himself as a top-tier star in NXT with great match after great match, and it's certainly no wonder why Black was declared NXT's Male Competitor Of The Year in 2017 along with the rivalry of 2017 against another promising young talent in Velveteen Dream.

Aleister Black is no longer the NXT Champion, and while it seems as though a rivalry with Johnny Gargano is on the cards for the immediate future, a call-up to WWE's main roster is also a strong possibility in the near future. Although there's always that chance Vince will wait until post-WrestleMania 35 (Raw after 'Mania) to bring Aleister to the main roster, many believe WWE will bring up Black well before the Show of Shows.

17 Asuka Finally Turns Heel

The career downfall of Asuka has definitely been hard to watch on SmackDown Live, as the inaugural Women's Royal Rumble match winner has fallen down the ranks tremendously following her upset loss against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34 this past April. No longer is Asuka booked as a force to be reckoned with or a legitimate top star. "The Empress of Tomorrow" has undoubtedly seen better days, as most SmackDown fans can tell you. However, while many fans have completely lost faith in Asuka (more sO WWE's creative team), Asuka's WWE career may not be over just yet.

For much of the past month and a half or so, according to Dave Meltzer, rumors have been swirling around that WWE is considering turning Asuka heel, and by all means, this would be a fantastic development (a much-needed one to boot). Asuka may never fully recover from her burial of sorts over the past four months, but there's certainly still time to salvage what's left of one of best pure female wrestlers in the world today.

16 Jinder Mahal Ditches "Shanti" And Becomes The Modern Day Maharaja Again

We believe it's safe to say very few expected Jinder Mahal's draft over to Monday Night Raw to turn out well, and over the past four and a half months, we have witnessed the downfall of the former long-reigning WWE Champion. Following a brief (and uneventful) feud with Roman Reigns, Jinder ditched his once-successful, vicious "Modern Day Maharaja" gimmick in favor of his past failed "Shanti" persona, and this has certainly not been a good decision on WWE's part. Jinder's recent Main Event loss against Zack Ryder speaks volumes in regards to Jinder "Shanti" Mahal...

Although Jinder isn't anywhere close to being one of WWE's best in-ring talents, it cannot be argued that Mahal has plenty more to offer Raw than what he recently has. Some rumors suggest Jinder is currently being punished with his Shanti gimmick for his lackluster Roman Reigns feud, but given Vince's praise of Jinder in the past, don't expect this to be the case for much longer. WWE is lacking top heels, and a Jinder resurgence is definitely in the cards soon.

15 Charlotte Wins Women's Royal Rumble To Secure 'Mania Match Against Rousey

Along with Alexa Bliss and Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair is undoubtedly one of WWE's favorites when it comes to Women's wrestlers. Despite only being on WWE's main roster for a few years, Charlotte has already done pretty well all there is to do in sports entertainment, and Flair's continued push doesn't seem to be halting anytime soon. While Charlotte lost her SmackDown Women's Championship match against Becky Lynch at the inaugural all-female pay-per-view Evolution event, WWE has much bigger plans for Charlotte heading into WrestleMania season.

Flair will most likely continue feuding with Becky over the next couple months, but as we head into the 2019 Royal Rumble, expect WWE to start a new storyline for Charlotte - a dream feud with Ronda Rousey.  Charlotte Flair is currently the rumored favorite to win next year's Women's Royal Rumble match, and it can almost be guaranteed that Flair will set her sights on Raw's "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey.

14 The Big Show And Kane Retire From The Ring For Good

Every year in WWE we witness the retirements of multiple legends, and 2019 will, unfortunately, be no different. The Big Show and Kane may seem like polar opposites upon first inspection, but when you look beneath their obvious differences looks-wise, you'll soon realize that 'Show and Kane are more the same than they are different. Both WWE Superstars have been in the sports entertainment industry for decades, and they have both been constants in WWE through thick and thin.

However, Big Show and Kane are unquestionably nearing their retirements (even though fans have been saying this for years now), and without a doubt, "The Worlds Largest Athlete" and "The Big Red Monster" will most likely hang up the boots in 2019, perhaps before or at WrestleMania 35. Kane is currently involved in a mini-feud with DX, but once 'Taker goes solo to feud with Shawn Michaels, Kane will almost definitely retire to put forth his focus on his job as Knox County's Mayor. The Big Show, on the other hand, may last a few more months with his involvement in Showbar, but this won't last very long either...

13 Andrade "Cien" Almas Becomes US Champion And Feuds With Rey Mysterio

Some fans were worrying about Andrade "Cien" Almas' chances of success on WWE's main roster, considering Almas was barely utilized for his first bit of time on SmackDown Live, but thankfully for everyone involved, the future remains bright for the former NXT Champion. Almas is amongst the best that WWE has to offer, and with every great match during his main roster run thus far, he has continuously impressed Vince McMahon...

It won't be long before Vince elevates Cien Almas to title contention, and while McMahon could go the typical route of hot-shotting a talent to the main event WWE Title scene before they're ready (Alberto Del Rio, for example), there's a stronger possibility that Vince will "test the waters," so to speak, with a United States Championship run for Andrade. With the extremely talented Rey Mysterio back amidst the SmackDown locker room, one of Cien Almas' first rumored US Title feuds is likely going to be Rey. Awesome, right?

12 The New Day Split Up

The New Day have become one of the most decorated factions in sports entertainment history, but like all good things, The New Day will eventually come to an end, much like The Shield did before them. The New Day have accomplished all there is to in WWE as a group over the past four years, as they've captured the Tag Team Championships on five different occasions, with many of their title reigns being very lengthy (The New Day are the longest reigning Raw Tag Team Champs).

However, despite their loyal fanbase, The New Day are beginning to get a bit stale despite their constant pushes, and for much of the past year and a half, fans have been wondering if a split-up is in the cards for New Day. Every member of The New Day has the potential to break out solo, with Big E likely being the most probable member to succeed in the main event scene. Though it doesn't seem very likely right now, don't be too surprised if The New Day end up splitting up in surprising fashion before WrestleMania 35.

11 Bray Wyatt Reemerges In WWE With A Newfound Persona And Push

Among WWE talent who've been vastly underutilized over the past year or so, Bray Wyatt's name undoubtedly would be at the forefront of that list, alongside Bobby Roode. Bray may have captured WWE Championship for the first time in his career last year heading into WrestleMania 33, but things have unfortunately gone downhill following Wyatt's draft over to Monday Night Raw. Bray had been demoted tremendously into a glorified enhancement talent position, and he was cleanly losing against the likes of Matt Hardy, among others, before he and Matt formed a short-lived, mildly successful tag team that lasted until Hardy's apparent retirement.

However, while it seemed as though Bray Wyatt was nearing the kind of irrelevancy which translates to Superstars requesting for the release in hopes of greener pastures elsewhere, recent reports suggest WWE have big plans for "The Eater of Worlds" following his impending return. Some rumors point to Vince repackaging Bray with a new gimmick altogether, and by all means, this is absolutely necessary if Wyatt is ever going to recapture his past successes.

10 Bobby Roode Turns Heel And Reinvigorates His Career

Bobby Roode has certainly not fared well whatsoever on WWE main roster, because Roode is stuck in complete and utter irrelevancy as of right now. The former NXT Champion losing to the likes of Konnor recently reflects just how hard Roode has fallen from grace. Once upon a time, Bobby Roode was one of the hottest things going in NXT, and his theme song alone had garnered well over 15 million views and counting on YouTube, which showcased Bobby's immense popularity.

However, fast forward a year and Bobby Roode is a shell of his former self, and this is entirely due to WWE's creative team or lack thereof. An ill-advised face turn hurt Bobby Roode to an extent, but Roode's continuously awful booking is what sealed Roode's fate for 2018. With that being said, not all hope is lost for Bobby Roode in WWE, as a heel turn is exactly what Bobby is in need of to attempt to recapture his former glory. Rumors suggest a heel turn for Roode is in the cards, and this may very well occur before WrestleMania 35.

9 Brock Lesnar Officially Leaves WWE

It's safe to say we have been talking about Brock Lesnar's impending leave or retirement from WWE for the past two years or so, but all signs point to this occurring in the not-so-distant future, perhaps even before 'Mania 35. Brock has sort of been in limbo for much of 2017 and 2018 when it comes to his WWE contract because it was rumored that Lesnar would've left following SummerSlam. Lesnar is still currently penciled in to take on Braun Strowman for the vacated Universal Championship at the Crown Jewel event this Friday, but without question, Braun is the rumored Superstar to win the vacant title.

Brock Lesnar has made it known that his interest for professional wrestling has been dwindling with each passing year, and following the Crown Jewel pay-per-view, there's a good chance "The Beast Incarnate" will end up leaving WWE to pursue his UFC career full-time. Brock Lesnar is simply costing WWE far too much at well over $12 million per year, so it would definitely be in Vince's best interests to let Lesnar go without fuss.

8 Dean Ambrose Becomes A Top Star Again As A Heel

Fans of Dean Ambrose have been wishing and hoping for WWE to present "The Lunatic Fringe" as a top-tier Superstar versus a glorified mid-card comedic nut job, and without a doubt, Dean's fans' wishes may end up coming true after all... While the bulk majority of the wrestling community was upset with WWE for "ruining" Ambrose's return by having him (and Seth Rollins) play second fiddle in The Shield to Roman Reigns, things in sports entertainment have a way of changing rather drastically when you least expect it.

As of last week, Dean Ambrose is no longer a Shield Brother, as the former WWE, Intercontinental and United States Champion is going solo with a vengeance. Since his unfortunate injury last year, Dean Ambrose has completely changed his look, and by all means, Ambrose definitely looks like a guy Vince would present as a main eventer. Over the next four or five months, you can expect WWE to push Dean right to the top within short order, and it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that Ambrose will be vying for the Universal Championship before 'Mania.

7 The Undertaker Feuds With Shawn Michaels Leading Up To WrestleMania 35

The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are two of the all-time greatest in WWE history, and while most fans believed their storied rivalry ended years ago, get ready, because it's clear Vince McMahon is going full steam ahead with a renewed feud between "The Heartbreak Kid" and "The Phenom" leading up to WrestleMania 35. Despite being well beyond their prime, The Undertaker is still showing signs of his former self in recent performances, and Shawn looks to still be in great shape.

The Undertaker and Kane challenged DX at the Crown Jewel even, but looking beyond Crown Jewel, it can be assured that WWE will begin transitioning the focus onto 'Taker and Michaels. Although rumors suggest Shawn Michaels will have multiple dream matches following his in-ring return, The Undertaker will unquestionably be the highest profile rivalry, andthe feud that builds up the anticipation for WrestleMania. There's a good chance that The Undertaker and HBK will retire for good together following a possible match at 'Mania 35.

6 Batista Returns For One Last Feud Against Triple H

The WWE Universe was taken by surprise when the announcement hit the news sites that Dave Bautista was returning for the 1000th episode of SmackDown Live, because prior to the big news, Batista had made it very known to the public where his standing was with WWE. He was far from a return. Regardless, "The Animal" blessed fans with his presence in Washington DC a couple weeks ago for Evolution's reunion, and following a tremendous promo from Dave, the seed was planted for a future rivalry between Batista and Triple H.

For much of the past two years, Batista has been pleading to have one final run in WWE leading into a WrestleMania event, because "The Animal" wishes to retire after a match-up with his longtime rival, Triple H. With the seed planted on SD 1000, it looks like Batista's wish will come to fruition, and the first half of 2019 will likely see the beginning of a renewed rivalry between the two legendary former WWE World Champions.

5 Kurt Angle Becomes Active In-Ring Performer Again

While "The Olympic Gold Medalist," Kurt Angle had been doing fine in his newfound role as Monday Night Raw's acting General Manager, it's clear Kurt and WWE alike have much bigger plans. These said plans involve Angle returning to the squared circle on a near full-time basis (at least considered an "active" competitor). WWE decided to write Angle off television a couple of months back in preparation for the former World Champions return to the ring, and by all accounts, the Crown Jewel pay-per-view is truly just the beginning of Kurt's return.

Though we don't have any clear evidence that Kurt Angle won't be reprising his role as the GM of Raw, it can be guaranteed that WWE will be utilizing Angle in a key storyline heading into WrestleMania 35 and potentially beyond. Kurt has mentioned that he desires to have one final run as a WWE or Universal Champion before he calls it quits. Kurt Angle may be well past his prime in the business, but it will definitely be exciting to see the Hall Of Famer wrestle more often regardless of the match outcome or his in-ring ability.

4 The Rock Returns Leading Up To WrestleMania 35

Just as we say that WrestleMania wouldn't be the same without The Undertaker, the same can definitely be said about one of the biggest Superstars of all time, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. While The Rock's presence at 'Mania isn't quite as mandatory as Undertaker's, it cannot be argued that "The Brahma Bull" adds excitement and makes WrestleMania feel that much more important. The Rock is undoubtedly a busy man, however, as Dwayne is seemingly in every blockbuster Disney movie that comes out. The Rock's schedule doesn't look to be getting any lighter anytime soon.

With that said, current WWE rumors suggest The Rock is being contacted by Vince McMahon in hopes of getting the icon to return to WWE leading up to WrestleMania (for a match and not just an appearance), and by all means, this would be huge considering Roman Reigns could potentially miss WrestleMania 35. There is speculation that The Rock is one of the odds-on favorites to win the Men's Royal Rumble match next year, so we may be seeing Dwayne back on WWE television very soon.

3 Hulk Hogan Returns To WWE Television

For much of the past three or so years, one of the major rumors discussed amongst the wrestling community has been in regards to "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan's possible return to WWE. Hulk Hogan's ties to WWE were severed a couple of years back following the backlash due to Hogan's past controversial behavior, and some believed Hogan would never again emerge on WWE television.

However, Hulk Hogan is undoubtedly one of the pioneers of sports entertainment, and his presence has been missed by enough fans to continuously keep Hogan's name in the wrestling news outlets whenever insiders discuss a possible return for Hulk to WWE. Hulk Hogan made his official WWE return at Crown Jewel, so, it's likely he will be seen on WWE television soon enough.

2 Drew McIntyre Becomes WWE Universal Champion

Drew McIntyre has always been dubbed Vince McMahon's "chosen one," and while Drew's first run in WWE didn't go remotely as planned, the second time around, things look to be much, much different. Since getting called up to WWE main roster, McIntyre has been very protected, defeated many top-tier Superstars, and has been presented as a future "star in the making" on Monday Night Raw.

With Roman Reigns currently out of action to deal with his leukemia, it can be guaranteed that Vince will quicken the ascent of Drew McIntyre to the main event scene. Drew's recent assault on Braun Strowman last week all but confirms it. Drew has the right look, an intimidating moveset, presence, charisma, and not to mention, mic skills, so his rise to the top will unquestionably be seamless.

There is a strong possibility that Drew McIntyre will be in contention for the Universal Championship well before WrestleMania 35, and the chances of Drew actually winning the title is at an all-time high right now. Drew is definitely one of the guys that will carry WWE in Roman's absence.

1 The Rise Of "The Monster Among Men" Begins

Fans have been anticipating the rise of "The Monster Among Men," Braun Strowman for much of 2017 and 2018, and despite the fact it seemed as though WWE was beginning to drop the ball with Strowman, with Roman Reigns' recent saddening diagnosis, Braun will undoubtedly be one of the Superstars Vince pushes to the forefront of Monday Night Raw. Strowman has always been presented as a big deal even with Roman Reigns amidst the roster, but things will only intensify with Reigns' absence.

Braun Strowman is currently scheduled to face Brock Lesnar for the vacant Universal Championship at Crown Jewel this Friday, and without a doubt, Strowman is the odds-on favorite to win the title and continue his path of destruction on Raw. Fans desperately desire an active, full-time champion, and Braun would be just that. Some fans believed Braun Strowman had already peaked in WWE as the second fiddle monster to Reigns and Lesnar, but the Road to WrestleMania will mark the true rise of "The Monster Among Men." I, for, one cannot wait!